Information processing device, information management method, and information processing system

ABSTRACT

An information processing device that is connected to another information processing device includes a memory storing a program, a first authentication information for each user to access the information processing device and a second authentication information in association with the first authentication information for the each user to access the another information processing device; and a processor that performs the program so as to execute a method including the steps of receiving an acquisition request that is sent from a client device according to the first authentication information, transmitting a list including files that are accessible according to the second authentication information in association with the first authentication information of the received acquisition request, receiving an execution request to execute at least one of the files and the folders that are included in the list, and executing a process according to the execution request by using the second authentication information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation patent application of, and claims thebenefit of and priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/980,015filed on Dec. 28, 2015 which is a continuation patent application of,and claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/272,830 filed on May 8, 2014, which is based on and claims thebenefit of priority of Japanese Priority Patent Application No.2013-100631, filed on May 10, 2013 and Japanese Priority PatentApplication No. 2014-089898, filed on Apr. 24, 2014, the entire contentsof which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing device, aninformation management method, and an information processing system.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, it is known that when a file access request is receivedfrom an application, a client determines whether to process the requestas a file access request to a local storage of the client, or to processthe request as a file access request to a cloud storage (see, forexample, Patent Document 1).

There are cases where the user saves information such as files in anexternal storage such as a cloud storage. However, when the user usesthe information such as files saved in the external storage, the userneeds to perform operations in accordance with the external storage thatis the save location, and therefore the operations become troublesome.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2011-3187

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an information processing device, aninformation management method, and an information processing system, inwhich one or more of the above-described disadvantages are eliminated.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided aninformation processing device for managing information saved in a savelocation, including an authentication unit configured to manage firstauthentication information and second authentication information inassociation with each other; said first authentication informationrequired to authenticate a client device requesting an operationrelevant to the information, and said second authentication informationrequired for authentication at said save location that saves theinformation; a save location monitor unit configured to monitor theinformation saved in the save location by using the secondauthentication information, and update index information of theinformation saved in the save location; and an information managementunit configured to create a list of the information saved in the savelocation by using the index information of the information saved in thesave location, and provide the list to the client device.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided aninformation management method executed by an information processingdevice for managing information saved in a save location, theinformation management method including managing first authenticationinformation and second authentication information in association witheach other, said first authentication information required toauthenticate a client device requesting an operation relevant to theinformation, and said second authentication information required forauthentication at said save location that saves the information;monitoring the information saved in the save location by using thesecond authentication information, and updating index information of theinformation saved in the save location; and creating a list of theinformation saved in the save location by using the index information ofthe information saved in the save location, and providing the list tothe client device.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided aninformation processing system for managing information saved in a savelocation connected to the information processing system, the informationprocessing system being constituted by a client device and aninformation processing device which are connected to each other, theinformation processing system including an authentication unitconfigured to manage first authentication information and secondauthentication information in association with each other, said firstauthentication information required to authenticate a client devicerequesting an operation relevant to the information, and said secondauthentication information required for authentication at said savelocation that saves the information; a save location monitor unitconfigured to monitor the information saved in the save location byusing the second authentication information, and update indexinformation of the information saved in the save location; and aninformation management unit configured to create a list of theinformation saved in the save location by using the index information ofthe information saved in the save location, and provide the list to theclient device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of an informationprocessing system according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an example of a computersystem according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a processing block diagram of an example of a storage serveraccording to the present embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of an example expressing login processingprocedures of the information processing system according to the presentembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example expressing login processingprocedures of a storage server according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an example of authenticationinformation;

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of an example of index information;

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram of an example of processing procedures ofupdating index information performed by the information processingsystem according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram of an example of processing procedures ofdisplaying a file list performed by the information processing systemaccording to the present embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example of processing procedures ofcreating a file list performed by the storage server according to thepresent embodiment;

FIGS. 11A through 11D are image diagrams of examples of displayed filelists;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an example of search processing procedures ofthe storage server according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram of an example of upload processingprocedures of the information processing system according to the presentembodiment;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of an example of upload processing procedures ofthe storage server according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 15 is sequence diagram of another example of upload processingprocedures of the information processing system according to the presentembodiment;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of another example of upload processingprocedures of the storage server according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of an example of processing procedures ofselecting the data upload destination;

FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram of an example of cloud informationused when selecting the upload destination of the data according to thecommunication speed;

FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram of an example of cloud informationused when selecting the upload destination of the data according to thefree space;

FIG. 20 is a configuration diagram of an example of cloud informationused when selecting the upload destination of the data according to akeyword included in the file name;

FIG. 21 is a configuration diagram of an example of cloud informationused when selecting the upload destination of the data according to thetype of file;

FIG. 22 is a sequence diagram of an example of download processingprocedures of the information processing system according to the presentembodiment;

FIG. 23 is a sequence diagram of another example of download processingprocedures of the information processing system according to the presentembodiment;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of an example of download processing proceduresof the storage server according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 25 is an image diagram of another example of a displayed file list;

FIG. 26 is an image diagram of an example of a displayed file list inwhich files are selected;

FIG. 27 is an image diagram of an example of a displayed uploaddestination list; and

FIG. 28 is an image diagram of an example of a file upload destinationselection screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A description is given, with reference to the accompanying drawings, ofembodiments of the present invention.

First Embodiment

System Configuration

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of an informationprocessing system according to the present embodiment. In an informationprocessing system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, an information managementdevice 10 is connected to a network N1 such as LAN (Local Area Network).Furthermore, in the information processing system 1, a client device 20and a cloud storage 30 are connected to the network N1.

The cloud storage 30 is a service by which information such as files canbe saved in a server in the network N1. The cloud storage 30 receives anoperation to a saved file, etc., from the client device 20 that can beconnected to the network N1. The client device 20 is an operationterminal such as a smartphone and a tablet terminal, or an electronicdevice such as a multifunction peripheral (MFP) and a projector. Theuser performs an operation on the file, etc., saved in the cloud storage30, from the client device 20. The client device 20 accesses the cloudstorage 30 via the information management device 10.

The information management device 10 is realized by a storage server,etc. The information management device 10 mediates the access andoperations from the client device 20 to the cloud storage 30, betweenthe client device 20 and the cloud storage 30.

The information processing system 1 makes it possible to operate a file,etc., without having the user consider the save location, by having theinformation management device 10 relay the operations (downloading anduploading files, searching) from the client device 20 to the cloudstorage 30.

The operation terminal is to be a terminal device that the user canoperate, such as a mobile phone and a notebook PC, other than asmartphone and a tablet terminal. The MFP and projector are examples ofan electronic device for inputting and outputting (for example,printing, scanning, and projecting) electronic data. Other examples ofthe electronic device for inputting and outputting electronic data are adigital camera, a microphone, and a speaker. The electronic device maybe any device for inputting and outputting electronic data, such as aprinter, a scanner, a copier, and an image displaying device, other thanan MFP and a projector.

The MFP is an example of an image forming device. The MFP has an imagingfunction, an image forming function, and a communication function, andmay be used as a printer, a fax machine, a scanner, and a copier. TheMFP can print out image data. The MFP is an image scanning device forscanning an original document and generating image data. Furthermore,the MFP has a web browser function. The projector is an example of animage projecting device. The projector has a projecting function and acommunication function. The projector displays image data.

The information management device 10 is an example of an informationprocessing device. The information management device 10 may execute ahigh function process that the client device 20 cannot process, and mayexecute a process as a storage server. The information management device10 may cooperate with an operation terminal such as a smartphone and atablet terminal and provide, as a service, the inputting and outputtingof electronic data by an electronic device such as an MFP and aprojector.

Note that the information management device 10 may be constituted bybeing distributed among a plurality of computers. Furthermore, there maybe a plurality of the cloud storages 30 illustrated in FIG. 1. The cloudstorage 30 may be another information management device 10. There may bea plurality of smartphones included in the client device 20.

Hardware Configuration

The information management device 10 is realized by, for example, acomputer system having a hardware configuration as illustrated in FIG.2. Note that the operation terminal, such as a smartphone and a tabletterminal, also has a configuration including the hardware configurationillustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of anexample of a computer system according to the present embodiment.

A computer system 100 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes an input device101, a display device 102, an external I/F 103, a RAM 104, a ROM 105, aCPU 106, a communication I/F 107, and a HDD 108, which areinterconnected by a bus B. The input device 101 includes a keyboard anda mouse, and is used for inputting various operation signals in thecomputer system 100.

The display device 102 includes a display, and displays processingresults performed by the computer system 100. The communication I/F 107is an interface for connecting the computer system 100 to the networkN1. Accordingly, the computer system 100 can perform data communicationwith the client device 20 and the cloud storage 30, via thecommunication I/F 107.

The HDD 108 is a non-volatile storage device storing programs and data.The stored programs and data include an OS (Operating System) that isthe basic software for controlling the entire computer system 100, andapplication programs for providing various functions on the OS. The HDD108 manages the stored programs and data by a predetermined file systemand/or a database (DB).

The external I/F 103 is an interface to an external device. An exampleof an external device is a recording medium 103 a. Accordingly, thecomputer system 100 can perform reading and/or writing of data on therecording medium 103 a via the external I/F 103. Note that examples ofthe recording medium 103 a are a flexible disk, a CD, a DVD (DigitalVersatile Disk), an SD memory card, and a USB (Universal Serial Bus)memory.

The ROM 105 is a non-volatile semiconductor memory (storage device), bywhich programs and data can be saved even after the power is turned off.The ROM 105 stores programs and data such as BIOS (Basic Input/OutputSystem) that is executed when the computer system 100 is activated, OSsettings, and network settings. The RAM 104 is a volatile semiconductormemory (storage device) for temporarily storing programs and data.

The CPU 106 is a processor for implementing control and functions of theentire computer system 100, by loading programs and data into the RAM104 from storage devices such as the ROM 105 and the HDD 108, andexecuting processes.

The computer system 100 according to the present embodiment can realizevarious processes described below, by the cooperation of hardwareresources and programs, according to a combination of the hardwareresources, programs, and data described above.

Software Configuration

In the following, a description is given of the information processingsystem 1 in which the information management device 10 is realized by astorage server 10A. Furthermore, in the following, file data isdescribed as an example of information saved in the cloud storage 30.For example, the storage server 10A according to the present embodimentis realized by processing blocks as illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a processing block diagram of an example of a storage serveraccording to the present embodiment. The storage server 10A executesprograms to realize an authentication management unit 11, a filemanagement unit 12, a cloud monitor unit 13, an authenticationinformation saving unit 14, an index information saving unit 15, a cloudinformation saving unit 16, a file data saving unit 17, and a cache datasaving unit 18.

The authentication management unit 11 manages authentication informationused for the client device 20 to access the storage server 10A, andauthentication information used for the storage server 10A to access thecloud storages 30A through 30D. The file management unit 12 uses indexinformation of the file data saved in the cloud storages 30A through30D, to manage the file data saved in the cloud storages 30A through30D. The cloud monitor unit 13 monitors the state of the cloud storages30A through 30D, and updates the index information and cloudinformation.

The authentication information saving unit 14 saves authenticationinformation used for the client device 20 to access the storage server10A, and authentication information used for the storage server 10A toaccess the cloud storages 30A through 30D. The index information savingunit 15 saves the index information of the file data saved in the cloudstorages 30A through 30D.

The cloud information saving unit 16 saves the cloud informationdescribed below. The file data saving unit 17 saves the file data in thestorage server 10A. Note that the file management unit 12 uses the indexinformation of the file data saved in the file data saving unit 17, toset the file data saved in the file data saving unit 17 as a target ofmanagement as well. The cache data saving unit 18 saves the cache.

Details of Process

In the following, a description is given of details of processes of theinformation processing system 1 according to the present embodiment.

Login Process

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of an example expressing login processingprocedures of the information processing system 1 according to thepresent embodiment. In step S1, the user activates the applicationinstalled in the client device 20. Note that the application may be anapplication exclusive to the storage server 10A, or a general-purposeapplication such as a web browser. The user inputs information (useridentification information) necessary for login such as a login ID and apassword, according to need.

In step S2, the client device 20 requests login to the storage server10A. In step S3, the storage server 10A executes a login process fromthe client device 20. When the login from the client device 20 issuccessful, in step S4, the storage server 10A requests a login processto the cloud storage 30 associated with the user who has logged in.

Furthermore, when the login to the cloud storage 30 is successful, instep S5, the storage server 10A acquires index information from thecloud storage 30. In step S6, the storage server 10A updates the indexinformation saved in the index information saving unit 15 with the useof the acquired index information.

Furthermore, FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example expressing loginprocessing procedures of the storage server 10A according to the presentembodiment. In step S11, the storage server 10A receives a login requestfrom the client device 20. The login request includes, for example, alogin ID and a password as user identification information.

In step S12, based on the login request from the client device 20, thestorage server 10A performs an authentication process with the use ofthe login ID and the password received at the time of the login requestand authentication information as illustrated in FIG. 6 saved in theauthentication information saving unit 14.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an example of authenticationinformation. The authentication information illustrated in FIG. 6includes the authentication information of the storage server 10A andthe authentication information of the cloud storage 30. Theauthentication information of the storage server 10A is authenticationinformation used for the client device 20 to log into the storage server10A. Furthermore, the authentication information of the cloud storage 30is authentication information used for the storage server 10A to loginto the cloud storage 30.

As the authentication information of the storage server 10A, informationof the device such as a device ID may be used, other than the login IDand the password. By associating the information of the device with thelogin ID and the password, the information of the device may be used asuser identification information.

Furthermore, the authentication information of the cloud storage 30 isassociated with the authentication information of the storage server10A. In the authentication information of FIG. 6, authenticationinformation of one or more cloud storages 30 is associated withauthentication information of a single storage server 10A. Theauthentication information of the cloud storage 30 includes a cloudname, a login ID, and a password.

When the login from the client device 20 is successful, in step S13, thestorage server 10A acquires, from the authentication information of FIG.6, the authentication information of the cloud storage 30 associatedwith the authentication information of the storage server 10A of theuser who has logged in.

In step S14, when the storage server 10A successfully acquires theauthentication information of the cloud storage 30, the storage server10A performs the processes of step S15 and onward. In step S15, thestorage server 10A uses the acquired authentication information of thecloud storage 30 to request a login process to the cloud storage 30.When the login to the cloud storage 30 is successful, in step S16, thestorage server 10A acquires index information from the cloud storage 30.In step S17, the storage server 10A uses the acquired index informationto update the index information saved in the index information savingunit 15.

For example, the storage server 10A to which a “user A” has logged inacquires, from the authentication information of FIG. 6, theauthentication information of the cloud storages 30 whose cloud namesare “cloud storage A” and “cloud storage B”. To the cloud storage 30Ahaving a cloud name “cloud storage A”, the storage server 10A makes alogin request with a login ID “user 01” and a password. Furthermore, tothe cloud storage 30B having a cloud name “cloud storage B”, the storageserver 10A makes a login request with a login ID “user 001” and apassword.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of an example of index information.The index information of FIG. 7 includes attribute information such as acloud name, a file path, full text information, the update date,permission, the owner, the group, and the file size.

Full text information is text information of a document file, when thetarget file is a document file. Permission is information relevant tothe access rights to a file. Permission is described as, for example,“-rw-r--r--”, where the first character is information for identifyingthe type of the target data, such as a file and a directory. The nextthree characters indicate the access rights of the owner. Among thethree characters, the first character “r” indicates reading of thetarget data (read), the second character “w” indicates writing of thetarget data (write), and the third character “x” indicates execution ofthe target data. When the owner cannot execute the respective processes,the position of the target character is indicated by “-”. The next threecharacters, which follow the three characters indicating the accessrights of the owner, indicate the access rights of the group of thetarget data. The three characters, which follow the three charactersindicating the access rights of the group, indicate the access rights ofanother user. Note that the contents indicated by the three charactersof the group and another user, are the same as the three characters ofthe access rights of the owner.

For example, in the case of “-rw-r--r--”, the access rights areinterpreted as follows. “The target data is a file, the owner can readand right, but cannot execute. The user of the group can read, butcannot write or execute. Another user can read, but cannot write orexecute.

Referring back to FIG. 7, the owner and the group indicate the owner andthe group described with respect to the permission.

The storage server 10A saves, in advance, the index information forsearching as illustrated in FIG. 7, in order to search for a file savedin one or more cloud storages 30 in a cross-sectoral manner. In order tocreate the index information, the storage server 10A periodicallyaccesses the cloud storage 30 to scan whether there is a file, andupdates the attribute information.

When the storage server 10A cannot access the cloud storage 30, in orderto increase the search speed, the index information of a file saved in acloud storage 30 that cannot be accessed, is deleted. In the searchingby the storage server 10A, it is possible to specify search refinementand the search order, based on the type of attribute information of theindex information.

For example, in the index information of FIG. 7, when the search rangeis refined to a cloud name “Cloud A”, the range of the search by thestorage server 10A is refined to files saved in the cloud storage 30Ahaving a cloud name “Cloud A”. Furthermore, according to thespecification of the search range, the search may be performed in theorder of the cloud storage 30A→the cloud storage 30B→the cloud storage30C. Furthermore, the search may be performed from the newest to theoldest update date of the file.

Note that the index information of the cloud name “self-storage” in theindex information in FIG. 7 is index information for searching for afile saved in the file data saving unit 17 of the storage server 10A.

Update Process of Index Information

The index information may be created and updated at the time of thelogin process and when registering the authentication information, andmay be updated at regular intervals while the storage server 10A isbeing activated, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram of an example of processing procedures ofupdating index information performed by the information processingsystem 1 according to the present embodiment. In step S21, the useractivates the storage server 10A. While the storage server 10A is beingactivated, steps S22 and S23 are repeated at regular intervals.

In step S22, the storage server 10A acquires index information form thecloud storage 30. In step S23, the storage server 10A updates the indexinformation saved in the index information saving unit 15, with the useof the acquired index information.

Process of Displaying File List

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram of an example of processing procedures ofdisplaying a file list performed by the information processing system 1according to the present embodiment. In step S31, the user operates theclient device 20, and requests the display of a file list. In step S32,the client device 20 requests the storage server 10A to acquire the filelist. In step S33, the storage server 10A performs a process of creatinga file list. Note that details of the process of creating a file listare described below. In step S34, the storage server 10A sends thecreated file list to the client device 20. The client device 20 displaysthe received file list. The user can confirm the file list displayed bythe client device 20.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example of processing procedures ofcreating a file list performed by the storage server 10A according tothe present embodiment. In step S41, the storage server 10A receives arequest to acquire a file list from the client device 20.

Furthermore, in step S42, the storage server 10A refers to the indexinformation saved in the index information saving unit 15, and searchesfor a file that a logged in user can access. Note that a file that alogged in user can access may be a file that only the logged in user canaccess, or a common file that all users can access. The determination ofwhether access is possible is made based on the permission associatedwith each data illustrated in FIG. 7.

In step S43, the storage server 10A creates a list of files that areaccessible by a logged in user, from the search result of step S42.Then, in step S44, the storage server 10A returns the file list createdin step S43, to the client device 20.

The client device 20 that has received the file list displays the filelist as illustrated in FIGS. 11A through 11D, for example. FIGS. 11Athrough 11D are image diagrams of examples of displayed file lists. Inthe examples of displayed file lists illustrated in FIGS. 11A through11D, file A and file D are included in a cloud storage A. Furthermore,in the examples in FIGS. 11A through 11D, file C is included in a cloudstorage B. Furthermore, in the examples in FIGS. 11A through 11D, file Band file E are included in a cloud storage C.

FIG. 11A illustrates a displayed file list displaying all of the filesin parallel. Furthermore, FIG. 11B illustrates a displayed file list inwhich the files are divided into folders of each of the cloud storages30 in which the files are saved.

Furthermore, FIG. 11C illustrates a displayed file list displaying allof the files in parallel, which are indicated in different colorsaccording to the cloud storage 30 in which the file is saved.Furthermore, FIG. 11D illustrates a displayed file list displaying allof the files in parallel, which have different icons applied accordingto the cloud storage 30 in which the file is saved.

Note that when the same file is saved in a plurality of cloud storages30, the file list may only display one file. It may be determinedwhether the files are the same file, based on whether the file namematches/does not match. Furthermore, it may be determined whether thefiles are the same file, based on whether the full-text informationincluded in the index information matches/does not match. Furthermore,it may be determined whether the files are the same file, based onwhether both the file name and the full-text information included in theindex information match/do not match.

In a case where file A, file B, and file C are included in the “cloudstorage A”, and file C, file D, and file E are included in the “cloudstorage B”, the file list is displayed as illustrated in FIG. 11A.

Search Process

The storage server 10A, which has received a search request from theclient device 20, executes a search process as illustrated in FIG. 12.FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an example of search processing procedures ofthe storage server 10A according to the present embodiment.

In step S51, the storage server 10A receives a search request from theclient device 20. In step S52, the storage server 10A determines thesearch condition of the received search request. The storage server 10Aholds, as index information, various items of attribute information offiles (of self-storage) saved in the file data saving unit 17 and files(of external storages) saved in the cloud storage 30.

Accordingly, in step S53, the storage server 10A can specify searchrefinement and the search order of the index information, based on thesearch condition. The storage server 10A searches the index informationbased on the search condition. In step S54, the storage server 10Aconsecutively returns the information of the files hit by the search, tothe client device 20 that is the search request source. Furthermore, instep S55, the storage server 10A returns the number of hits of thesearch to the client device 20 that is the search request source.

Note that when the files hit by the search can be downloaded from thecloud storage 30, the storage server 10A may download the files from thecloud storage 30 in the order that they were hit by the search.

Uploading File

The user may upload a file from the client device 20 as illustrated inFIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram of an example of uploadprocessing procedures of the information processing system 1 accordingto the present embodiment. Note that FIG. 13 illustrates an uploadprocess in which the upload destination is specified.

In step S61, the user operates the client device 20 and requests thedisplay of the upload data selection screen. In step S62, the clientdevice 20 creates a list of data that can be uploaded, and displays ascreen as illustrated in FIG. 25. In step S63, the user selects data tobe uploaded, from the displayed data list. For example, as illustratedin FIG. 26, it is assumed that a user has selected “file A”, “file C”,and “file E” from the list, and has selected “complete”. Furthermore,the user selects the self-storage or the cloud storage 30, as the uploaddestination of the data. In step S64, the user requests the clientdevice 20 to execute the uploading. For example, as illustrated in FIG.27, a list of upload destinations (including self-storage and cloudstorage) is displayed on the client device 20, and the user selects theupload destination and selects “upload”. Note that at this time, theuser may select a plurality of upload destinations.

In step S65, the client device 20 requests the storage server 10A toupload the data, based on the upload execution request from the user.This execution request includes information (for example, identificationinformation for identifying the upload destination) relevant to theupload destination to which the data is to be uploaded. In step S66, thestorage server 10A checks the upload destination.

When the upload destination is the self-storage, in step S67, thestorage server 10A saves the data selected by the user in the uploaddestination selected by the user. Furthermore, when the uploaddestination is the cloud storage 30, in step S68, the storage server 10Arequests the cloud storage 30 that is the upload destination to uploadthe data selected by the user. In step S69, the cloud storage 30 savesthe uploaded data.

Note that after the uploading of the data is completed, the storageserver 10A can update the index information of the file saved in thecloud storage 30 that is the upload destination. As described above, thestorage server 10A can also update the index information at the timingof uploading the file.

Note that the sequence diagram of FIG. 13 is an example of a process ina case where the client device 20 is an operation terminal such as asmartphone and a tablet terminal saving the data to be uploaded.

For example, when the client device 20 is an electronic device such as ascanner that can generate the data to be uploaded, the processes ofsteps S61 through S64 become processes for generating the data to beuploaded. Furthermore, in the case of a smartphone and a tabletterminal, an image taken by the camera of the operation terminal may beuploaded.

Note that when uploading the file, a screen as illustrated in FIG. 28may be displayed on the client device 20, for letting the user selecteither to take an image with a camera (generate data to be uploaded andupload the generated data), or select an image from a file list (uploaddata stored in the client device 20).

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of an example of upload processing procedures ofthe storage server 10A according to the present embodiment. In step S71,the storage server 10A receives a data upload request from the clientdevice 20. In step S72, the storage server 10A checks the uploaddestination of the data specified by the user.

Furthermore, in step S73, the storage server 10A determines whether theupload destination of the data is the self-storage. When the uploaddestination of the data is the self-storage, in step S74, the storageserver 10A saves the data specified by the user in the file data savingunit 17.

Meanwhile, when the upload destination of the data is not theself-storage, in step S75, the storage server 10A determines whether thecloud storage 30 that is the upload destination of the data is online.When the cloud storage 30 that is the upload destination of the data isonline, in step S76, the storage server 10A requests the uploading ofthe data specified by the user.

In step S77, when the uploading of the data in step S76 is determined asbeing successful, in step S78, the storage server 10A updates the indexinformation. Note that also after saving the data specified by the userin the file data saving unit 17 in step S74, the storage server 10Aperforms the process of step S78. After step S78, the process proceedsto step S79, and the storage server 10A returns the success completioncode to the client device 20.

Note that when the cloud storage 30 that is the upload destination ofthe data is not online in step S75, or when the uploading of the data isdetermined as not being successful in step S77, the storage server 10Aperforms the process of FIG. S80. In step S80, the storage server 10Areturns an unsuccessful error code to the client device 20.

The user may upload a file from the client device 20, as illustrated inFIG. 15. FIG. 15 is sequence diagram of another example of uploadprocessing procedures of the information processing system 1 accordingto the present embodiment. Note that FIG. 15 illustrates an uploadprocess in which the upload destination is automatically selected.

In step S91, the user operates the client device 20, and requests thedisplay of an upload data selection screen. In step S92, the clientdevice 20 creates a list of data that can be uploaded, and displays thedata list. In step S93, the user selects data to be uploaded, from thedisplayed data list. Furthermore, the user requests the client device 20to execute the uploading.

In step S94, the client device 20 requests the storage server 10A toupload the data, based on the upload execution request from the user. Instep S95, the storage server 10A selects the upload destination of thedata.

When the upload destination is the self-storage, in step S96, thestorage server 10A saves the data selected by the user in the selectedupload destination. When the upload destination is the cloud storage 30,in step S97, the storage server 10A requests the cloud storage 30 thatis the upload destination to upload the data selected by the user. Instep S98, the cloud storage 30 saves the uploaded data. As describedabove, the process of the sequence diagram of FIG. 15 is different fromthe process of the sequence diagram of FIG. 13 in that the uploaddestination is automatically selected by the storage server 10A.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of another example of upload processingprocedures of the storage server 10A according to the presentembodiment. In step S101, the storage server 10A receives a data uploadrequest from the client device 20.

In step S102, the storage server 10A selects the data upload destinationof the data. In step S103, the storage server 10A determines whether theselection of the data upload destination is successful.

When the selection of the data upload destination is successful, in stepS104, the storage server 10A requests the upload of the data specifiedby the user into the cloud storage 30, or to save the data specified bythe user in the self-storage. In step S105, when the storage server 10Adetermines that the uploading or the saving of the data in step S104 issuccessful, in step S106, the storage server 10A updates the indexinformation. In step S107, the storage server 10A returns a successcompletion code to the client device 20. Note that when the selection ofthe data upload destination is unsuccessful in step S103, or when theuploading or the saving of the data is unsuccessful in step S105, thestorage server 10A performs the process of step S108. In step S108, thestorage server 10A returns an unsuccessful error code to the clientdevice 20.

The process of selecting the data upload destination in step S102 isperformed as illustrated in FIG. 17, for example. FIG. 17 is a flowchartof an example of processing procedures of selecting the data uploaddestination.

In step S111, the storage server 10A acquires the cloud informationdescribed below, which is saved in the cloud information saving unit 16.The cloud information includes at least information of the stateexpressing whether the cloud storage 30 is online.

In step S112, the storage server 10A determines whether there is aself-storage or a cloud storage 30 whose state is online and capable oftransmission. When there is a self-storage or a cloud storage 30 capableof transmission, in step S113, the storage server 10A selects, as thedata upload destination, the information of the self-storage or thecloud storage 30 having the highest priority, among the a self-storageor a cloud storage 30 capable of transmission. Then, the storage server10A returns the information of the selected data upload destination.Note that in step S112, when there is no self-storage or cloud storage30 capable of transmission, the storage server 10A returns anunsuccessful error code in step S114.

FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram of an example of cloud informationused when selecting the upload destination of the data according to thecommunication speed. In the cloud information of FIG. 18, the uploaddestinations are given priority according to the communication speedbetween the storage server 10A and the cloud storage 30, so that thestorage server 10A can select the upload destination of the data. InFIG. 18, the faster the communication speed, the higher the priority.

FIG. 19 is a configuration diagram of an example of cloud informationused when selecting the upload destination of the data according to thefree space. In the cloud information of FIG. 19, the upload destinationsare given priority according to the free space in the storage server 10Aand the cloud storage 30, so that the storage server 10A can select theupload destination of the data. In FIG. 19, the larger the free space,the higher the priority.

FIG. 20 is a configuration diagram of an example of cloud informationused when selecting the upload destination of the data according to akeyword included in the file name. In the cloud information of FIG. 20,the upload destinations are given priority according to the keyword, sothat the storage server 10A can select the upload destination of thedata.

FIG. 21 is a configuration diagram of an example of cloud informationused when selecting the upload destination of the data according to thetype of file. In the cloud information of FIG. 21, the uploaddestinations are given priority according to the to the type of file, sothat the storage server 10A can select the upload destination of thedata. The cloud information in FIGS. 18 through 21 are examples; theupload destinations of data may be given priority according to the timeperiod.

Downloading File

The user may download a file from the client device 20 as illustrated inFIG. 22. FIG. 22 is a sequence diagram of an example of downloadprocessing procedures of the information processing system 1 accordingto the present embodiment.

In step S121, the user operates the client device 20 to request thedisplay of the storage data. In step S122, the client device 20 requeststhe storage server 10A to create a list of storage data. In step S123,the storage server 10A performs a process of creating a list of storagedata. Note that the storage server 10A may create the storage data listfrom the index information. The storage server 10A returns the createdstorage data list to the client device 20.

The client device 20 displays the received storage data list. The usercan confirm the storage data list displayed by the client device 20. Instep S124, the user selects data to be downloaded, from the storage datalist. In step S125, the user requests the client device 20 to executethe downloading.

In step S126, the client device 20 requests the storage server 10A toperform the data downloading, based on the request to executedownloading from the user. In step S127, the storage server 10A checksthe download source.

When the download source is the self-storage, in step S128, the storageserver 10A acquires the data selected by the user from the file datasaving unit 17, and sends the data to the client device 20. Furthermore,when the download source is the cloud storage 30, in step S129, thestorage server 10A requests the cloud storage 30 that is the downloadsource to download the data selected by the user.

The cloud storage 30 sends the data that has been requested to bedownloaded, to the storage server 10A. The storage server 10A sends thedata, which has been received from the cloud storage 30, to the clientdevice 20.

Note that after the downloading of the data is completed, the storageserver 10A can update the index information of the file stored in thecloud storage 30 that is the download source. As described above, thestorage server 10A can update the index information at the timing ofdownloading the file.

Note that the sequence diagram of FIG. 22 indicates an example of aprocess of downloading the data in the client device 20 that is therequest source of data downloading. For example, the sequence diagram ofFIG. 23 indicates an example of a process of downloading the data in aclient device 20B other than a client device 20A that is the requestsource of data downloading.

FIG. 23 is a sequence diagram of another example of download processingprocedures of the information processing system 1 according to thepresent embodiment. In step S131, the user operates the client device20A to request the display of the storage data.

In step S132, the client device 20A requests the storage server 10A tocreate a list of storage data. In step S133, the storage server 10Aperforms a process of creating a list of storage data. Note that thestorage server 10A may create the storage data list from the indexinformation. The storage server 10A returns the created storage datalist to the client device 20A.

The client device 20A displays the received storage data list. The usercan confirm the storage data list displayed by the client device 20A. Instep S134, the user selects data to be printed, from the storage datalist. In step S135, the user requests the client device 20A to executethe printing.

In step S136, the client device 20A requests the storage server 10A toperform the printing, based on the request to execute printing from theuser. In step S137, the storage server 10A checks the download source ofthe data to be printed.

When the download source is the self-storage, in step S138, the storageserver 10A acquires the data selected by the user from the file datasaving unit 17. When the download source is the cloud storage 30, instep S139, the storage server 10A requests the cloud storage 30 that isthe download source to download the data selected by the user. Then, thestorage server 10A acquires the data selected by the user from the cloudstorage 30.

When the storage server 10A acquires the data selected by the user, instep S140, the storage server 10A sends the data selected by the user tothe client device 20B having a printing function, and requests theclient device 20B to print the data. In step S141, the client device 20Bprints the data received from the storage server 10A. In the process ofthe sequence diagram of FIG. 23, a plurality of client devices 20A and20B are caused to cooperate with each other, which is the differentpoint from the process of the sequence diagram of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of an example of download processing proceduresof the storage server 10A according to the present embodiment. In stepS151, the storage server 10A receives a data download request from theclient device 20.

In step S152, the storage server 10A acquires the index information ofthe data specified by the user, and identifies whether the downloadsource is a self-storage or the cloud storage 30, based on the indexinformation.

In step S153, the storage server 10A determines whether the downloadsource of the data is the self-storage. When the download source of thedata is the self-storage, in step S154, the storage server 10A acquiresthe data specified by the user from the file data saving unit 17.

Meanwhile, when the download source of the data is not the self-storage,in step S155, the storage server 10A determines whether the cloudstorage 30 that is the download source is online.

When the cloud storage 30 that is the download source is online, in stepS156, the storage server 10A requests the downloading of the dataspecified by the user. In step S157, when the downloading of the data instep S156 is successful, in step S158, the storage server 10A updatesthe index information. Note that also after acquiring the data from thefile data saving unit 17 in step S154, the storage server 10A performsthe process of step S158. After step S158, the process proceeds to stepS159, and the storage server 10A returns the success completion code tothe client device 20.

Note that when the cloud storage 30 that is the download source of thedata is not online in step S155, or when the downloading of the data isunsuccessful in step S157, the storage server 10A performs the processof step S160. In step S160, the storage server 10A returns anunsuccessful error code to the client device 20.

Overview

According to the information processing system 1 according to thepresent embodiment, when the user operates a file saved in the storageserver 10A or the cloud storage 30, there is no need to performdifferent operations according to the save location, and the file savedin the save location can be easily operated.

Furthermore, according to the information processing system 1 accordingto the present embodiment, the files saved in the storage server 10A anda plurality of cloud storages 30 can be integrated in a list anddisplayed to the user. The user can operate the files by commonprocedures, regardless of the save location of the files.

Furthermore, according to the information processing system 1 accordingto the present embodiment, the storage server 10A can hold the indexinformation, and therefore the data capacity required of the clientdevice 20 can be reduced.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an informationprocessing device, an information management method, and an informationprocessing system are provided, which are capable of facilitatingoperations on information saved in a save location.

The information processing device, the information management method,and the information processing system are not limited to the specificembodiments described herein, and variations and modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing device that isconnected to one or a plurality of other information processing devices,comprising: at least one memory that stores a first program, a firstauthentication information for each user to access the informationprocessing device and a second authentication information in associationwith the first authentication information for the each user to accessthe one or a plurality of other information processing devices; and afirst processor that is configured to perform the first program to:receive user identification information from a client device, permit theclient device to access the information processing device based on thefirst authentication information and the user identificationinformation, transmit a list indicating one or more files or one or morefolders to the client device, the one or more files or the one or morefolders being stored in the one or more other information processingdevices, which is accessible according to the second authenticationinformation that is stored in the at least one memory in associationwith the first authentication information; receive an execution requestto operate at least one of the one or more files and the one or morefolders that are included in the list, which is operated by the clientdevice, and execute the execution request from the client device, andcommunicate with the one or a plurality of other information processingdevices, based on the execution request and the second authenticationinformation.
 2. A system including an information processing device thatis connected to one or a plurality of other information processingdevices, and a client device, said information processing devicecomprising: at least one memory that stores a first program, a firstauthentication information for each user to access the informationprocessing device and a second authentication information in associationwith the first authentication information for the each user to accessthe one or a plurality of other information processing devices; and afirst processor that is configured to perform the first program to:receive user identification information from the client device, permitthe client device to access the information processing device, based onthe first authentication information and the user identificationinformation, transmit a list indicating one or more files or one or morefolders to the client device, the one or more files or the one or morefolders being stored in the one or more other information processingdevices, which is accessible according to the second authenticationinformation that is stored in the at least one memory in associationwith the first authentication information; receive an execution requestto operate at least one of the one or more files and the one or morefolders that are included in the list, which is operated by the clientdevice, and execute the execution request form the client device, andcommunicate with the one or a plurality of other information processingdevices, based on the execution request and the second authenticationinformation, wherein the client device includes a second memory thatstores second program, and a second processor; wherein the secondprocessor executes the second program to: send a request for receivingthe list indicating one or more files or one or more folders to theinformation processing device; display the list on a display of theclient device based on a list indicating the one or more files or one ormore folders that is sent from the information processing device inresponse to the request for receiving, receive an operation of the oneor more files or one or more folders in the list, and send the requestfor executing a process corresponding to the received operation.
 3. Amethod performed by an information processing device that is connectedto one or a plurality of other information processing devices, theinformation processing device including at least one memory that storesa first program, a first authentication information for each user toaccess the information processing device and a second authenticationinformation in association with the first authentication information forthe each user to access the one or plurality of other informationprocessing devices; and a first processor that is configured to performthe first program, the method comprising: receiving user identificationinformation from a client device, permitting the client device to accessthe information processing device, based on the first authenticationinformation and the user identification information, transmitting a listindicating one or more files or one or more folders to the clientdevice, the one or more files or the one or more folders being stored inthe one or more other information processing devices, which isaccessible according to the second authentication information that isstored in the at least one memory in association with the firstauthentication information; receiving an execution request to operate atleast one of the one or more files and the one or more folders that areincluded in the list, which is operated by the client device, andexecuting the execution request form the client device, andcommunicating with the one or a plurality of other informationprocessing devices, based on the execution request and the secondauthentication information.
 4. The method according to claim 3, whereinthe information processing device is connected to a first informationprocessing device and a second information processing device as the oneor the plurality of other information processing devices, the firstinformation processing device is accessible based on secondauthentication information, and the second information processing deviceis accessible based on another second authentication information, saidsecond authentication information and said another second authenticationinformation being different from each other, and the at least one memoryis configured to store the second authentication information and theanother second authentication information for each user to access thefirst information processing device and the second informationprocessing device.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein themethod further comprising: sending, to the client apparatus that isauthorized to access the information processing device based on thefirst authentication information, the list indicating the one or morefiles or the one or more folders that are stored in the firstinformation processing device and the list indicating the secondinformation processing device, said first information processing deviceand second information processing device being accessed based on thesecond authentication information.
 6. The method according to claim 5,wherein the method further comprising: displaying the list in the clientapparatus so that a list indicating the one or more files or the one ormore folders that are stored in the first information processing deviceand another list indicating the one or more files or the one or morefolders that are stored in the second information processing device areincluded in different folders.
 7. The method according to claim 5,wherein the method further comprising: receiving a request to search afile or a folder from the client apparatus, searching, according to therequest, the one or more files or the one or more folders within thelist indicating the one or more files or the one or more folders thatare stored in the first information processing device and the anotherlist indicating the one or more files or the one or more folders thatare stored in the second information processing device, and sendinginformation of searched one or more files or one or more folders to theclient apparatus.
 8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the methodfurther includes: receiving an execution request of uploading, from theclient device, the one of the files or folders that are managed by thefirst information processing device to the second information processingdevice, and uploading, to the second information processing device, theone or more files or the one or more folders that are managed by thefirst information processing device according to the secondauthentication information to access the first information processingdevice and another second authentication information to access thesecond information processing device among the second authenticationinformation.
 9. The method according to claim 3, wherein the methodfurther includes: accessing the one or a plurality of other informationprocessing devices by using the second authentication information,acquiring index information of the one or more files or the one or morefolders that is stored in the one or plurality of other informationprocessing devices upon being authorized to access the one or pluralityof other information processing device, and sending a list indicatingone or more files or one or more folders based on acquired indexinformation to the client device that is authorized to access theinformation processing device.
 10. The method according to claim 3,wherein the method further includes: receiving an execution request ofdownloading the one or more files or the one or more folders from theclient device, acquiring the one or more files or the one or morefolders to be downloaded from the one or a plurality of otherinformation processing devices according to the second authenticationinformation, and transmitting the acquired the one or more files or theone or more folders to the client device.
 11. The method according toclaim 3, wherein the method further includes: receiving an executionrequest of outputting the one or more files or the one or more foldersfrom the client device, acquiring the one or more files or the one ormore folders to be output from the one or a plurality of otherinformation processing devices according to the second authenticationinformation, and transmitting the acquired one or more files or one ormore folders to other client device.